Post by klyne on Dec 3, 2011 11:46:40 GMT

Not sure if this will apply to non French drivers but French rules usually do! The fine for not having one seems very modest to be a deterrent. I did wonder if it was some sort of wind up when they started to talk about having a failsafe system where by the car would not start unless you had the required low blood alcohol level? I am also struggling to see the logic for carrying such a device. If your are going to be stopped by the Police I would have thought they would have provided them!

Post by Sorento 08 on Dec 3, 2011 12:26:50 GMT

Not sure if this will apply to non French drivers but French rules usually do! The fine for not having one seems very modest to be a deterrent. I did wonder if it was some sort of wind up when they started to talk about having a failsafe system where by the car would not start unless you had the required low blood alcohol level? I am also struggling to see the logic for carrying such a device. If your are going to be stopped by the Police I would have thought they would have provided them!

David,I have sent an email to the newspaper to ask if they have any comments on this regarding UK drivers visiting for Holiday or work, will let you know if I get a response, (Not holding my breath though)Paul

Post by Sorento 08 on Dec 3, 2011 17:11:11 GMT

From past experience it seems that French rules apply to everyone not just the French! A example is the carrying of Hi Viz vests.

David

David,That is so true, looks like we need to spend more money on our trip for next year, hopefully we will be told by CC Red Penant when we come to take the insurance out where we will be able to get them from, as I would think we will have to buy from a controlled supplier to ensure the correct standards are met, who will control this is another matter which needs to be sorted before it goes live??Paul

Post by Carper on Dec 5, 2011 19:52:19 GMT

I emailed the Caravan Club to see if they had any information on this and the reply I received was this.

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your email to the Overseas Travel department. This is not currently something we are aware will affect you, however, we would like to look into it in more detail, and talk to our contacts in France to ensure we know the full implications of this change to the French law. As soon as we have done this and got all the information we can we will write back to you, however, it may not be until next week that you receive a reply.

Post by Dickers on Dec 5, 2011 22:09:09 GMT

I have contacted my son-in-law who lives in France permanently. He says that it is only a proposal at the moment. It will very much depend on whether Sarkosy gets in again whether it becomes law.However, if it does become law, it will take effect in the spring of next year.

Post by Sorento 08 on Dec 7, 2011 12:16:09 GMT

If it does become law, it will be effective at the beginning of June 2012, just in time for Mr and Mrs Dickers to go to France. Hooorah!

Like you Dickers we will be in France from 8th June 2012.

I recieved a reply from the News paper, see below their reply;

Quote;Thank you for your query and for your interest in The Connexion. Your email has been forwarded to our Editorial team (they can be reached direct at news@connexionfrance.com)

They will be in touch if we need more information about the issues you have raised. Please note however that, due to the high volume of mail that we get, we are not able to answer every question sent to us. If we are able to answer yours, our response will be printed in a forthcoming issue of The Connexion.

Nathalie

Subscriptions

English Language Media

Publishers of The Connexion, the Dordogne Advertiser, the Normandy Advertiser, the Brittany Pages and the Languedoc Pages

Post by Sorento 08 on Dec 15, 2011 21:42:08 GMT

Thanks Les,We were shopping in a local warehouse called Costco, yesterday, and came across a breath test kit it was being sold for about £30 , will be interesting to see the outcome of this, as said, we are dur to holiday in France in June next year.Paul

Post by mrsmothy on Dec 15, 2011 22:20:19 GMT

Hi Paul

Perhaps you could ask in a pharmacie to see how much they are there as the gendarmerie suggests they are only 1E? If they can be bought for such a measly sum, I think we'll get one because its not worth upsetting anyone at that price. As a foreigner visiting France, I don't have the right to critisise how they do and dont implement new laws but I bet a high persentage of non French nationals will fall foul of this if it is introduced.

Post by campingcariste on Dec 17, 2011 16:05:22 GMT

It's true that this is a proposal but I will be surprised if it doesn't becom law in the spring of 2012. Why shouldn't it apply to UK visitors or visitors from any other country for that matter - 'when in Rome' and all that. Furthermore what's the big deal, they will not be expensive or difficult to obtain, in fact at the moment they are being provided free to anyone having a family or friends get-to-gether and they are distributed free at nightclubs as well. At the end of the day it's fo YOUR safety there are enough deaths and nutters on the road here already so anything to help road safety has to be a good thing. I don't think for one minute UK visitors will be targeted by 'our dear friends the gendarmes' but imagine you are on holiday you have stopped 'en route' for a meal in a restaurant with your caravan and motorhome, enjoyed a nice meal 'vin compris' what's wrong in checking to make sure you are under the legal limit if you are in doubt.